The King of Spitz
Franz Hirtzberger
Wachau, Austria
The 2015 Riesling lineup that day with the Steinporz Weissburgunder.
My first ever official wine producer visit in the Wachau wine-growing region of Austria took place at the venerable Weingut Franz... (more...)

Visiting a Sangiovese Legend: Montevertine

Visiting Montevertine
Radda in Chianti
The Montevertine Cantina Tasting: 2014 Le Pergole Torte, 2014 Montevertine, 2015 Pian del Ciampolo
On a recent trip to Tuscany, I had decided to focus on the wine producers in and around the Chianti Classico region... (more...)

A Visit to MacDonald & Detert
Oakville, Napa Valley
Alex MacDonald
For the longest time, I have wanted to see for myself the To-Kalon vineyards, to be surrounded by its treasured vines and walk its hallowed soils. I wanted to experience first... (more...)

The Symington Dynamic Duo
Graham’s Port Lodge, Porto
&
Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim, Pinhao, Douro Valley
In February I made my first wine-related work trip to Portugal and third overall. I had the chance to check out the newly renovated... (more...)

Weingut Knoll: The Classicist

Weingut Knoll
Unterloiben
Wachau, Austria
September 2016
The iconic Knoll label depicting Saint Urban – the patron Saint of vineyards and winemakers.
Of all the wine producers in the Wachau, maybe none more than Knoll sets ablaze the attention... (more...)

Quinta de Soalheiro
Melgaço, Portugal
Quinta de Soalheiro
On a sunny and cool spring-like day in the middle of the winter we headed to the northernmost reaches of Portugal to the Minho River which forms the border with Spain in Melgaço. Looking... (more...)

Weingut Josef Jamek

JJJ – Weingut Josef Jamek
The Doyen of the Wachau
Joching, Austria
September 2016
Landmarks like this one for “Ried Klaus” mark the border or start of a “Ried” or “Cru” Vineyard in the Wachau
The... (more...)

Weingut Rudi Pichler

The Sage of Wosendorf
Wosendorf, Wachau, Austria
September 2016
The outstanding 2015 Riesling lineup from Rudi Pichler.
When you have a connection to a wine producer from a special moment in your wine life, when you finally make the visit to them and... (more...)

Austria: An Overview

The Wachau Valley & Vienna
“Now We Are Three”
Patron Saint Urban watching over us here at Weingut Knoll.
When we travel for an extended time in a wine region I like to post a short overview of our experiences. When planning this trip... (more...)

Middleburg AVA
Northern Virginia Wine Country
Greenstone (left) and granite are the two main soil types in the 3 Linden vineyard sites.
Jim Law founded Linden Vineyards over 30 years ago and seems like the kind of guy that has his priorities in the... (more...)